Dog Ordinance

DOG CONTROL ORDINANCE

Section 1.   LICENSING:   Dogs to be licensed in accordance with the statutes of the State of Maine.  No dog shall be kept within the limits of the town of Corinna, County of Penobscot,  State of Maine, unless such dog shall have been licensed by its owner in accordance with the statutes of the State of Maine.

Section 2.   DOGS NOT TO BE PERMITTED TO RUN AT LARGE:    It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog, licensed or unlicensed, to permit such dog to run at large.  “At Large” shall be intended to mean  -  off the premises of the owner and not under the control of any person by means of a chain, rope, or cord of sufficient strength to control the action of such dog  ( or such other personal presence and attention as will reasonably control the conduct of such dog ) . 

Section 3.   DUTIES OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER & PERSON HAVING CONTROL OF IMPOUNDING:   Any police officer or appointed Animal Control Officer within the town of Corinna, may seize, impound or restrain any dog kept in violation of Section 1,  and any dog running at large,  and deliver such dog to the person who is duly authorized to have control of impounding.  If the owner of such dog is known or can be located within reasonable diligence, then the person who has control of impounding shall personally notify the owner of such dog within three days of the receipt of such dog.  If the owner of such dog is not known and cannot be located with responsible diligence, then the person having control of impounding shall post, within forty-eight hours of the time such person may have taken such dog into his possession, written notices in the public places in the municipality, giving a description of the dog, stating where it is impounded and the conditions for its release.  If the owner within seven days after receiving notice, or within seven days after notice has been posted, does not claim such dog, then the person having control of impounding shall dispose of the dog as consistent with state law “Control or ownership shall vest in the Contracted Animal Shelter of the Town of Corinna’s choosing, and they may then sell or dispose of the animal as they deem necessary.” 

The person having control of impounding shall keep a record of every dog disposed of by sale or otherwise.  Such record shall include:

a.       a description which identifies the dog with reasonable certainty

b.      the manner of disposing of the dog

Section 4.   PENALTIES:   For an initial violation of this ordinance by an owner, the owner shall be ordered to pay a penalty of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).  In determining the amount to be forfeited, the court shall consider any evidence in mitigation, extenuation, or aggravation it considers pertinent to the offense, including but not limited to the civility and degree of cooperation exhibited by the owner, the penalty shall be increased by a minimum of $50.00 above the penalty for the immediately proceeding violation.  All penalties awarded, and all the sums recovered, shall accrue to benefit the Town of Corinna.  An owner found to have violated this ordinance shall pay all fees and surcharges assessed or required by a court or court order or rule and shall pay court costs.  

Section 5.   VACCINATION:   It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog older than four months, less than one day, to keep, maintain, or permit to run at large, such dog, unless it has been vaccinated by a veterinary surgeon, with anti-rabies vaccine, within one year preceding the date on such dog is kept, maintained, or permitted to run at large.   Any person found violating this provision shall be fined not less than $25.00, not more than $100.00, plus cost of prosecution.

Section 6.   BARKING PROVISION:  No person or corporation shall own, keep or harbor any dog, which by loud, frequent, habitual barking, howling or yelping longer than twenty (20) minutes and disturbs the peace of any person or persons. Whoever keeps a dog contrary to the provision of this ordinance shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25.00 no more than $100.00 to be recovered by complaint before any District Court in Penobscot County. 

Section 7.   SEPARABILITY OF PROVISIONS: It is the intention of the municipality that each separate provision of this ordinance shall be deemed independent of all other provision herein, and it is further the intention of the municipality that if any provision of this ordinance be declared invalid, all other provisions thereof shall remain valid and enforceable. 

Section 8.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon adoption from its passage, approval and publication. 

Section 9.   REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES: All existing ordinances of the Town of Corinna are hereby repealed insofar as they may be inconsistent with the provision of this ordinance.

  

APPROVED:   FEBRUARY 6, 1969

ACCEPTED AT TOWN MEETING   MARCH 10, 1969

 

 

DOG CONTROL ORDNANCE

RETYPED WITH PROPOSED CHANGES 03/30/2012

RETYPED WITH PROPOSED CHANGES 04/04/2012

RETYPED WITH PROPOSED CHANGES 04/06/2012

RETYPED WITH PROPOSED CHANGES 05/23/2012